Side loading hearse



July 10, 1934. w MYERS ET AL 1,965,965

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July 10, 1934;

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July ,10, 1934.

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Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDE LOADING HEAR-SEOriginal application August 7, 1926, Serial No. 127,851. Divided andthis application February 21, 1927, Serial No. 169,77 6. RenewedFebruary 6 Claims. (Cl. 29616) Our invention has reference toside-loading hearses, and has for its chief purpose to provide a vehicleof that type having a side opening and closure therefor, through whichopening a casket containing a body can be introduced into the hearse orremoved therefrom. This application is a division of our formerapplication filed Aug. 7, 1926, Serial No. 127,851, for a similardevice, relating to certain parts of the invention therein not involvedin interference cases now pending.

Another purpose thereof is to provide a carrier or truck for the casketupon which the casket may be placed transversely of the hearse and by'the use of which such casket can be moved into the hearse, and into aposition longitudinally thereof. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding thetruck and casket in place in the hearse, such means being operatedautomatically by said truck and its load upon reaching the end of itsinward movement. Associated with said means is mechanism for the releasethereof, including stored-power devices for giving an initial movementto the truck and its load 7 upon being released.

Another feature of the invention consists in a novel arrangement of thevehicle so as to allow sufficient clearance room for the casket inmoving the same into or out of the hearse.

The above named and other features and advantages of the invention willmore fully appear from the following specification, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in

which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle equipped with the invention,with the side thereof open, and a casket shown in position therein.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the front end of the vehicle, inperspective.

Fig. 3 is a view of the post 9, detached.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the latch mechanism in the post 9.

r Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bed of a vehicle equipped. with theinvention, with the casket truck in position thereon.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the table 19, and mechanism beneaththe same.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the truck 21.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the broken line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a cross section of the table 19 line of one of the pins 40.

on the Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the broken line 10--10 of Fig. 6,with the parts in reverse position.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the reference number 1 indicates thebody of a vehicle of hearse pattern, 2 the top thereof, and 3 and 4 thecarrying wheels therefor. In the front part of the vehicle is a driversseat 5, at the side of which is an auxiliary seat 6, hinged so as to becapable of being tipped forwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, the back of saidseat being also hinged so as to fold down against the seat in awell-known manner. Above the backs of said seats is a partition 7,having an opening closed by sliding panels, as at 8.

At the outer end. of the seat 6 is a post 9, held removably in place bybolts 10 and 11 at the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively, andarranged and operated in the manner hereinafter set forth. Upon beingdetached the post 9 is swingingly supported by a pair of metal arms 12and 13 secured to the upper and lower ends of said post, and having apivotal connection with brackets attached to the upper and lowerportions of the vehicle frame. To the inner face of the post 9 isattached an end-piece 14 for the seatfi, corresponding with an end-piece15 at the inner end of the seat 5. (Fig. 2.)

In rear of the post 9 is an opening in the side of the vehicle, normallyclosed by a door 16, hinged to the body of the vehicleso as to swingrearwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. At the side of the seat 6 is anotheropening, closed by a door 17, hinged to the frame so as to swingforwardly,

- as shown in said figure. The pivots of the hinges of the door 17 andthe arms 12 and 13 are in line vertically, so that the post can be swungoutwardly with the door if desired. Said door is provided on its outerface with a double jamb, against wrich the outer edges of the doors 16and 17 close, and said edges are provided with latches for holding thedoors in closed position after the usual manner of such vehicle doors.Upon the door 16 being opened the door 17 and post 9 swung outwardly, asshown in Fig. 2, and the seat 6 tipped forwardly, an opening is providedin the side of the vehicle, and beneath the projecting end of thepartition 7, to permit of the movement of a casket of usual proportionsinto or out of the vehicle, in the mannerhereinafter more fully setforth.

The vehicle is fitted with a floor 18 upon which is supported a table19, provided with a plurality of ball rollers 20, upon which is movableatruck 21,-adapted to receive and hold one end of a casket. At .the endsofysaid truck are downwardly projected pins 22 and 23, operable, re-

spectively, in slots 24 and 25 in the table 19.

the door 17, without disturbing the post 9 or door 16, the door 17 beingopened and closed in the same manner as if the post were solidlyattached to the frame of the vehicle.

By the use of the present invention it is possible to place a caskettherein or remove the same with the vehicle standing at the curb, orother place where it would be diificult to turn the vehicle in order toback it in. This also does away with the necessity of pall-bearers orothers stepping into mud or snow in the street adjoining the curb, or insome drive-way in a cemetery.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a hearse, the combination of: a body of suificient size to allow acasket to be disposed therein in such a longitudinal position that themajor axis of the casket is substantially parallel to the ground and tothe line of motion of the hearse, said body having a door opening in aside thereof; cooperating carrier means between the casket and thehearse so constituted as to permit movement of the casket from saidlongitudinal position to a transverse position; mechanism provided tolock said carrier means from movement in said longitudinal position;release means for releasing said mechanism; and automatic means adaptedto automatically move said casket from said longitudinal position towardsaid transverse position when said release means is actuated.

2. In a hearse, the combination of: a table provided with a system ofslots; a casket carrier rollingly mounted on said table and providedwith pins slidable in said slots, said slots being disposed to turn saidcarrier from a longitudinal position to a transverse position in itsmovement from one end of said table to the other; mechanism provided tolock said carrier from movement upon attaining a longitudinal position;release means for releasing said mechanism; and automatic means adaptedto automatically move said carrier from said longitudinal positiontoward said transverse position when said reelase means is actuated.

3. In a hearse, the combination of: a table provided with a system ofslots; a casket carrier rollingly mounted on said table and providedwith pins slidable in said slots, said slots being disposed to turn saidcarrier from a longitudinal position to a transverse position in itsmovement from one end of said table to the other; a lever having a catchadapted to engage one of said pins when said carrier is in saidlongitudinal position so as to lock said carrier from movement; meansfor releasing said catch from engagement with said pin so as to permitsaid carrier to move freely on said table; and automatic means forautomatically moving said carrier towards said transverse position whensaid catch is released.

4. In a hearse, the combination of: a table provided with a system ofslots; a casket carrier rollingly mounted on said table and providedwith pins slidable in said slots, said slots being disposed to turn saidcarrier from a longitudinal position to a transverse position in itsmovement from one end of said table to the other; a lever having a catchadapted to engage one of said pins when said carrier is in saidlongitudinal position so as to lock said carrier from movement; meansfor releasing said catch from engagement with said pin so as to permitsaid carrier to move freely on said table and spring actuated mechanismadapted toautomatically move said carrier towards said transverseposition when said catch is released.

5. In a device of the class described: a table provided with a system ofslots; a carrier rollingly mounted on said table and provided with pinsslidable in said slots; mechanism for looking said carrier from movementrelative to said table; release means for releasing said mechanism sothat said carrier may move. freely on said table; and means adapted toautomatically rotate said carrier about one of said pins when saidrelease means is actuated.

6. In a device of the class described: a table provided with a system ofslots; a carrier supported on said table and adapted to move from oneend of said table to the other, said carrier being provided with pinsslidable in said slots; mechanism for locking said carrier from movementon said table; release means for releasing said mechanism so that saidcarrier may movefreely on said table; and means adapted to automaticallymove one of said pins longitudinally on said table and to rotate saidcarrier about the other of said pins during said longitudinal movementwhen said release means is actuated.

WILBUR MYERS. FRANK THOMAS.

